Detection of SARS-CoV-2 in aerosol and surface samples in high acuity hospital settings during community epidemic waves – implications for risk-based infection control
During community epidemics, SARS-CoV-2 genetic material is detected in hospital air despite good ventilation. Enhanced protection with masks, vaccines, and portable air purifiers, especially in high-risk areas, may mitigate nosocomial transmission, including among staff. Air sampling can provide an early warning of an outbreak and help identify areas that need enhanced infection control.
Authors
- Charitha de Silva (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9517-4318)
- Gregory J. Walker (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0044-1394)
- Damian Alexander Honeyman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4339-1801)
- Shelby L. O’Connor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0183-5010)
- David H. O’Connor (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2139-470X)
- Adriana Notaras (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0251-9626)
- Stuart Turville (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1918-5343)
- Mohana Kunasekaran (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5779-7979)
- Mohamed Mahmoud Abdelkareem Mahmoud (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4314-8684)
- Andrea Sevendal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-7860-5267)
- Isla E. Emmen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4725-4935)
- Mark Nicholls
- Con Doolan
- Noor Bari
- Ian Seppelt
- Rebecca Gresham
- William Rawlinson
- C.Raina MacIntyre
- Andre Fellipe Vilanova de Araujo Aquino
- Anupriya Aggarwal
Institutions
- New South Wales Department of Health (AU)
- University of Wisconsin–Madison (US)
- Nepean Hospital (AU)
- UNSW Sydney (AU)
- Australian and New Zealand Intensive Care Society (AU)
- Prince of Wales Hospital (AU)
- New South Wales Institute of Psychiatry (AU)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Respiratory Medicine
- Published
- 2026-02-13
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rmed.2026.108712
- Primary Topic
- Infection Control and Ventilation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00